September-October 2011 · Volume 20, Number 5 Teenie Matlock From the President Wins Young Investigator Award Research Conference in Transition igma Xi’s In my last letter I presented a Framework for Action that briefly 2011 Young described three core actions needed to enable long-term growth SInvestigator and achievements consistent with our Society’s mission and vision. Award goes to One of these core actions is the transition of our annual meeting and international cognitive scientist research conference format. I am very pleased that the transition of Sigma Xi that began Teenie Matlock at at the grassroots level of our chapters and regional meetings has positively impacted the the University of format for our November 2011 meeting and research conference. California, Merced. With your continued support, the time is indeed at hand when our proceedings at these She is an associate professor whose main line events will be re-focused on our core values of fostering cooperation among scientists of research is psycholinguistics. and engineers, promoting honor, integrity and honesty in all scientific activities, and Matlock is best known for her work on nurturing the next generation of zealous companions in research around the world. spatial language, especially motion verbs, The core of our Annual Meeting and International Research Conference in Raleigh, but in her latest research, she is investigating North Carolina, November 10-13, 2011 will include speakers and panels, featuring language in the political realm, specifically, prominent leaders in, institutions of higher education, government and private enterprise. how the linguistic details of campaign ads influence attitudes about electability. The panel sessions will focus on She has published more than 50 articles. 1) Ethics & Integrity in Conducting and Reporting Research, Her research combines theory from cognitive 2) The Intersection of Science, Culture, Religion and Ethics, linguistics and methods from experimental psychology. Many of her projects address 3) Ethics & Integrity in Peer Review and Authorship, and the understanding of meaning. Originally 4) Accuracy of Reporting Research Results and Science in Popular Media. from Mariposa in the Sierra Nevada foothills, Please visit www.sigmaxi.org for updated details on invited and confirmed speakers, Matlock came to nearby UC Merced as a plus bios and accomplishments of this year’s Sigma Xi award winners: founding faculty member in 2004, after completing postdoctoral research at • Engineer-physicist Supriyo Datta at Purdue University: William Procter Prize Stanford University. for Scientific Achievement, providing an outstanding contribution to scientific She received her Ph.D. in cognitive research while demonstrating an ability to communicate the significance of this psychology at UC Santa Cruz in 2001 after research to scientists in other disciplines completing earlier graduate work at UC San • Former astronaut Kathryn Sullivan: John P. McGovern Science and Society Award Diego and undergraduate work at California • IBM Distinguished Engineer Casimer DeCusatis: Walston Chubb Award for State University, Fresno. Her work has been Innovation, honoring creativity in science and engineering funded by grants from the National Science • University of California, Merced, cognitive scientist Teenie Matlock: Young Foundation and the University of California. Investigator Award, recognizing excellence in research by a member of Sigma Xi She is also on the affiliate faculty in the within 10 years of his or her highest earned degree Institute of Cognitive and Brain Sciences at UC Berkeley and serves as a standing • U.S. Congressman David Price (D-North Carolina): Honorary Membership member of the National Institute of Health’s We also plan to hold some of our conference functions at the Sigma Xi Headquarters Language and Communication panel. building in Research Park Triangle, North Carolina. UC Merced’s Academic Senate honored Please join us in Raleigh to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Sigma Xi, The her in 2008-09 with the Distinguished International Scientific Research Society, when we will honor the past and look to the Undergraduate Teaching Award. future with a conference theme focus on fostering integrity in science. “My research is a mesh of cognitive linguistics, experimental psychology and Michael Crosby (continued on page 432) www.sigmaxi.org 2011 September-October 429 Sigma Xi History •1986-2011 This is the fifth in a series of articles about issues involved in the ongoing debate Xi’s continued presence as an authoritative Sigma Xi’s history as part of our 125th on the role of research. On the heels voice in ethics. anniversary celebration. of this came a second popular forum, In 2002, American Scientist launched “Science, Technology, and the Global it first robust website, increasing its he discussions that took place during Society,” which explored where science members’ and the public’s access to cutting Sigma Xi’s centennial in 1986 set the and technology would take Sigma Xi over edge scientific research. Furthermore, after Tstage for its outreach during the balance the subsequent 25 years and how societal a decade of fund raising for Sigma Xi’s new of the 20th century. In June 1989, the board constraints would affect them. home, the organization’s leadership took approved plans for a move of headquarters With the closing of the century came a bold step. In April 2003, ground was to Research Triangle Park (RTP), North a new focus on the internationalization broken for a new office building. Carolina. When the Society moved to North of Sigma Xi’s endeavors. The society The Sigma Carolina in 1990, it leased office space in made concerted efforts to reach out to Xi Center RTP, though long term plans called for colleagues across the globe, helping to opened on building a free-standing headquarters. form international chapters. In addition, December 1, Over the next few years under its new members of underrepresented groups 2003 and executive director John F. Ahearne, Sigma became an ongoing priority to further provided Xi strengthened its presence as a strong diversify Sigma Xi’s membership. attractive new voice supporting science education and the The formation of constituent groups quarters for importance of fostering research. A highly was one of the major structural changes to Sigma Xi, American Scientist and a meeting successful forum was staged in 1993, with take place in Sigma Xi as it moved into the facility where chapters, the Board of the theme “Ethics, Values, and the Promise new millennium. Improvement of website Directors and other groups could convene. of Science,” echoing the dedication of Sigma communications fostered an increase in One striking feature of the new building Xi to high standards. speed and quality of communications was the Hall of Honor, saluting Sigma Xi’s Sigma Xi received a major boost in among chapters internationally. Outreach to now more than 200 Nobel Laureates. heightened general public awareness in the scientists in developing countries through the Sigma Xi continues to be a dynamic spring of 1994, when American Scientist began “International Science Networking Initiative” organization that expands and contracts as general newsstand distribution and sales to the utilized electronic communications as a necessary to integrate new technology and public. Articles of interest were immediately primary means of collaboration. the needs of its members. Programming picked up by news services and the venture was The support of the National Science reflects these changes with the establishment successful in building public awareness. Foundation in underwriting a pilot of the Student Research Conference, Held in 1995, the forum titled workshop, “New Ethical Issues in Science Science Cafés and the Affiliate Circle. “Vannevar Bush II: Science for the 21st and Technology,” an innovative Chapter Sigma Xi has taken advantage of Century,” addressed many of the critical Workshop Series, demonstrated Sigma new technologies in communications, 1988 1990 1991 1993 Ray Fuller Sigma Xi Gertrude Elion Global Positioning (SX 1960) headquarters (SX 1991), be- Systems (GPS) is invents Prozac, moves to comes the first invented by the first selective Research woman to be Ivan Getting serotonin re- Triangle Park, inducted into the (SX 1937) and the uptake inhibitor North Carolina National Inventors U.S. Department Hall of Fame of Defense English FDA approves Hubble Channel anti-AIDS telescope Tunnel drug AZT is deployed opens 1987 1990 1994 430 New Sigma Xi Chapters • 1986-2011 Allegheny Univ. of Villanova Univ. Mesa State College St. Mary's College Iberian Health Sciences n William Paterson Clear Lake of CA Florida Intl Univ. Australian Univ. Kalamazoo, MI South Texas Univ. of CA, Merced Four Corners Woods Hole Lawrence Livermore Kennesaw State Univ. Providence College Univ. of NC- Shenandoah Valley National Lab Fairfield Univ. College of Mt. St. Wilmington Southern Maine Northwest Indiana WA College Vincent Univ. of NE at B. P. America NC Central Univ. Carthage College Nordic Kearney Research Triangle Park Prague Institute of Tarleton State Univ. North Shore formulating science news in a variety of Univ. of NC-Asheville Univ. of CA-Irvine Advanced Studies Berry College The Univ. of Findlay CA State Univ.-Long Baylor College of South FL Water WA State Univ. International Partners formats. Science in the News is a daily Beach Management Dentistry Vancouver Sigma Xi Georgia subscription e-mail featuring